Mechanical code setting device

ABSTRACT

A MECHANICAL CODE SETTING DEVICE IS DISCLOSED COMPRISING A CORE PROVIDED WITH A RESESS HAVING A CROSS SECTION WHICH DECREASE FROM THE SURFACE OF THE CORE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RECESS, PIN TUMBLERS EXTENDING THROUGH PASSAGEWAYS IN THE WALL OF THE CORE AND PROJECTING INTO THE RECESS, A KEY HAVING A PATTERNED OUTER SURFACE OF THE SAME GENERAL CONFIGURATION AS THE RECESS WHICH CONTACTS THE INNER ENDS OF THE PIN TUMBLERS WHEN INSERTED IN THE RECESS TO CAUSE THE OUTER ENDS OF THE PIN TUMBLERS TO TERMINATE AT POINTS WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE CORE IN OCCORDANCE WITH THE PATTERN ON THE OUTER SURFACEE OF THE KEY AND MEANS FOR SENSING SUCH TERMINATION POINTS. A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE DEVICE IS DESCRIBED AND VARIOUS APPLICATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS ARE DISCLOSED.

R. F. ASMAR ET AL MECHANICAL com; SETTING DEVICE Nov. 23, 1971 3Sheets-Shoot 1 Filed July 15, 1970 oooooooo' 0 INVENTOILQ ROMEAL E ASMARBY HENRY JANOSKI m4 ATTORNEYS NOV. 23, 1971 ASMAR ET AL 3,621,688

MECHANICAL CODE SETTING DEVICE Filed July 13, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet IINVENTORS BY ROMEAL E ASMAR 2 HENRY JANOSKI 3 W W z l ATTORNEYS v Nov.23, 1971 R. F. ASMAR ETAL 3,621,688

MECHANICAL CODE SETTING DEVICE Filed July 15, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet:

*ROMEAL F. ASMAR BY HENRY JANOSKI ML, Wv-W ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent Office 3,621,688 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 3,621,688 MECHANICAL CODESETTING DEVICE Romeal F. Asmar, 1837 Andrea Lane, Concord, Calif. 94520,and Henry Janoski, Concord, Calif.; said Janoski assignor to said AsmarFiled July 13, 1970, Ser. No. 54,517 Int. Cl. EtlSb 19/02, 27/06, 39/04US. Cl. 70-352 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mechanical codesetting device is disclosed comprising a core provided with a recesshaving a cross section which decreases from the surface of the core tothe bottom of the recess, pin tumblers extending through passageways inthe wall of the core and projecting into the recess, a key having apatterned outer surface of the same general configuration as the recesswhich contacts the inner ends of the pin tumblers when inserted in therecess to cause the outer ends of the pin tumblers to terminate atpoints with respect to the outer surface of the core in accordance withthe pattern on the outer surface of the key and means for sensing suchtermination points. A preferred embodiment of the device is describedand various applications and modifications are disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mechanical devicesfor setting a code and more particularly to a mechanical device adaptedto set a multiplicity of digital like identification codes.

It will be understood that any conventional lock and key mechanim is amechanical code setting device in that the key acts on the elements ofthe lock mechanism to cause such element to assume certain predeterminedpositions. Such positions are, of course, coded in the sense that only akey having the proper configuration will place the elements of the lockin the proper position to allow the lock mechanism to be actuated. Acommon form of lock and key mechanism is the pin tumbler lock, as shownin US. Patent 2,905,926, in which a cylindrical core is received in ahollow cylinder and locked against rotation with respect thereto bypins. The pins are received in passageways in the wall of the hollowcylinder and are spring loaded to cause them to pass throughcorresponding passageways in the core and project into an appropriatekeyway of constant cross-sectional dimensions in the core. Each pin ismade up of two or more segments in abutting relation and proportioned sothat when a key having a proper configuration is inserted into thekeyway a juncture between segments of each pin will coincide with theperiphery of the cylindrical core to permit rotation of the core withinthe hollow cylinder. Such rotation of the core, of course, serves toactuated the desired function, such as unlocking or recording functions,for example.

It will be understood that, although a single tumbler pin would besufficient to lock the core against rotation in the cylinder, it wouldbe comparatively simple to devise a tool other than a key of the properconfiguration with which the pin tumbler could be properly positioned toallow such rotation. For this reason its is desirable to use a pluralityof tumbler pins spaced along the keyway, all of which must be properlypositioned by the key inserted therein to permit rotation of the core,However, in mechanisms of this type according to the teaching of theprior art the number of pin tumblers that can be used in any particularmechanism is limited by the resistance which such pin tumblers offer tothe key upon its insertion into and removal from the keyway.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanical code settingdevice of the type described above in which the resistance offered bythe pin tumblers to the insertion and removal of the key is reducedtoward a minimum whereby the number of pin tumblers that may be used ina given mechanism is greatly increased.

It will be understood that any resistance oifered by the pin tumblers tothe insertion and removal of the key will result in wearing of both thepin tumblers and the key itself, eventually destroying the desired codesetting relationships thercbetween.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanical codesetting device of the type described above in which the wearing of thekey and pin tumblers in use is reduced toward a minimum.

According to the teaching of the prior art, each particular mechanicalcode setting device has been capable of setting at most a limited numberof codes and generally only one code. In other words, in each particulardevice there is a small number of combinations of positions of the pintumblers which will enable the device to be actuated to perform thedesired function and thus the device is responsive to only a smallnumber of key configurations.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mechanical code settingdevice capable of responding to a substantially increased number of keyconfigurations in setting a substantially increased number of operativecodes.

Where a mechanical code setting device according to the prior art iscapable of setting a large number of different codes in response to alarge number of key configurations, it is difficult to limit the use ofthe device to authorized persons since all of such key configurationsmust have certain common features which can be easily detected andimitated.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a me chanicalcodesetting device capable of setting a large number of different codes inresponse to different key configurations in which the operable keyconfigurations are more difficult to imitate and operable but falseconfigurations may be detected.

It is an overall object of this invention to provide a mechanical codesetting device, capable of providing both locking and recordingfunctions, which is simple to operate, inexpensive to manufacture, anddoes not require electrical devicesor other spark producing agencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, a mechanical code setting deviceaccording to this invention comprises a core member having a recesstherein which recess has a surface defining a continuously decreasingcross-section along an axis of such core member, a key member forinsertion in said recess along such axis and having an outer surfacegenerally conforming to such surface of the recess, such outer surfacebearing a pattern of irregularities thereon, and a plurality of pintumblers slidably received in passageways spaced about such recess andpassing through the wall of the core member transversely to such surfaceof such recess, such passageways being positioned to correspond toselected points in the pattern on such outer surface of the key memberand such pin tumblers being adapted to project into the recess in theabsence of the key whereby the outer ends of the pins terminate atpoints with respect to the outer surface of the core in accordance withthe pattern on the surface of the key when the key is inserted in therecess. Means are provided for sensing the termination point of saidpins with respect to the outer surface of the core. In accordance with apreferred embodiment of this invention the core is rigidly mounted. Acylinder having passageways through the wall thereof corresponding tothe passageways through the Wall of the core is rotatably mountedthereon and each pin tumbler comprises two or more sections with anabutment therebetween occurring at the outer surface of the core andwith certain of the pin tumblers projecting beyond the outer surface ofthe cylinder when a key having a proper pattern on the surface thereofis inserted in the recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing and other objects andfeatures of the subject invention will become more clearly apparent froma reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment thereofin conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view partially in section of anembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view partially in section of the core memberand housing of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1 with thekey member removed and showing the arrangement of the pin tumblers inaccordance with this embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 withthe key member inserted in the core member.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the relationship ofkey member, core member, housing and pin tumblers according to anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation, partially in section and partiallyschematic illustrating one application of the embodiment of thisinvention shown in FIGS. 13.

FIG. 6 is a representation of a pressure-sensitive strip havinginformation printed on the surface thereof such as may result from theoperation of the device illustrated in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the basicelements of the preferred embodiment of this invention are shown. Suchelements comprise a key member 10, a core member 12 and a housing 14. Asshown in FIG. 1, the housing 14 is a hollow cylinder. The core 12 has acylindrical outer surface dimensioned to fit within the cylindricalhousing 14. The core 12 has a recess formed therein along itscylindrical axis to receive the key member 10. According to thisinvention, a portion of such recess has a surface which is inclined withrespect to the axis of the core to define a recess portion ofcontinuously decreasing cross-section along such axis. As shown in FIG.1, such surface is conical and the key member is provided with amatching conical outer surface 16. As shown, the key member and recessmay be provided with matching cylindrical portions 17 and 18 at oppositeends of the conical surface 16 in order to facilitate the insertion ofthe key member 10 into the recess. Similarly, the key member 10 may beprovided with a thumb-grip 19 to facilitate handling and utilization ofthe key member 10.

A plurality of pin tumblers 20 comprising at least two sections 2011 and20b are slidably received in passageways in the core member 12 andhousing 14 and are adapted to project into the recess in the core member12 in the absence of a key member 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the conicalsurface 16 of the key member 10 is provided with a pattern ofindentations 22. The openings of the passageways in the core member 12are spaced along the inclined surface thereof to correspond to selectedpoints in the pattern of indentations in the conical surface 16 of thekey member 10. Since the passageways in the core member 12 extendtransversely to the inclined surface of the recess in the core member 12and the pin tumbler sections 20a project into such recess in the absenceof key 10, the insertion of key member 10 into the recess in the coremember 12 will actuate the pin tumbler sections 20a causing them toslide along the passageways and assume a predetermined position withrespect to the outer surface of the core member 12. Such predeterminedposition will depend upon the length of the pin tumbler sections 20a andthe presence or absence of an indentation 22 at the point where theconical surface 16 of the key member 10 contacts the end of a pintumbler section 20a. Thus it will be seen that the conical surface 16 ofthe key member 10 tends to contact all of the pin tumbler sections 20aessentially simultaneously and that such contact occurs essentially atone point for each of such pin tumbler sections 20a. For this reason,there is a minimum of sliding contact between the ends of the pintumbler sections 20a and the conical surface 16 of the key member, thusreducing mechanical resistance and wear therebetween during insertionand removal of the key member 10.

It will be understood that in a simplified embodiment of this invention,the pin tumbler sections 20a received in the passageways in the coremember 12 might be dimensioned so that they would project from the outersurface of the core member 12 if there is no indentation in the conicalsurface 16 of the key member at the point of contact therewith, or beflush with the outer surface of the core member 12 if there is anindentation in such surface 16 at the point of contact therewith. Suchprojection or lack of projection of the pin tumbler sections wouldprovide a binary code corresponding to the pattern of indentations inthe surface 16 of the key member 10 which binary code might be easilysensed. However, according to the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 1, it is necessary that an abutment occur between the sections ofthe pin tumblers at the outer periphery of the core member 12 in orderto permit rotational movement between such core member 12 and thehousing 14. Thus according to the embodiment of this invention shown inFIG. 1, the pin tumbler sections 20a are dimensioned so that they willnot project beyond the outer surface of the core member 12 in thepresence of a proper key and the pattern of indentations on the surface16 of the key member 10 is sensed by means of cylinder 14, pin tumblersection 20b and pin tumbler insert sections 20c interposed between pintumbler sections 20a and 20b as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

It will be understood that the inclined surface 16 of the key member 10need not be conical according to this invention. Instead such surface 16and the corresponding inner surface of the recess may have any shapeproviding portions along the axis of the core member 12 of continuouslydecreasing cross-section. Thus such surface 16 might comprise a seriesof discreet conical steps, for example. Similarly, such surface 16 neednot be rectilinear but might have either a convex or concave curvaturealong the axis of the core member 12. Obviously such surface 16 might bepyramidal or wedge-shaped along such axis. It will be understood thataccording to the teaching of this invention, the pin tumblers 20 mustextend transversely through the inclined surface and ideally at rightangles thereto.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the key member 10 may haveslightly smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the cross-sectionaldimensions of the recess in the core member 12 in order to permit theuse of a pattern of protuberances from the surface thereof in place of apattern of indentations 22. A mixed pattern of protuberances andindentations may also be used. In fact, embodiments of this inventionmight be designed to sense any pattern of irregularities in the surfaceof the key member 10.

However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of thisinvention is based on circular symmetry about the axis of the coremember 12. Referring to FIG. 2, this configuration permits the use ofpin tumblers arranged in radial array about a cross-section of thedevice. As shown in FIG. 2 the pin tumblers may be spring-loaded tocause them to project into the recess in the core member 12 in theabsence of a key as indicated by springs 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, groups of pin tumblers may be arranged in commoncross-sectional planes, perpendicular to the axis of the core member 12.However, it will be understood that the pin tumblers 20 need not bearranged in groups in a plurality of planes perpendicular to the axis ofthe core member 12, but instead might be staggered along such axis in anirregular pattern to conform to a correspondingly irregular pattern ofindentations on the inclined surface of the key member.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pin tumbler sections 20a, 20b, and 200 aredimensioned so that an abutment therebetween will occur at the outerperiphery of the core member 12 upon insertion of the key membertherein. Thus, beginning at the top of the figure and going about theperiphery thereof to the left, it will be seen that the first four pintumblers are dimensioned to allow rotational movement between the coremember 12 and the housing 14 whether there is an indentation in the keymember 10 or not. If there is an indentation in the key member 10, thesepin tumblers will remain in the position shown, and if there is noindentation in the key member 10, the pin tumblers will be forcedoutwardly so that the insert sections 200 will be forced into thepassageways in the housing member 14 with the pin tumbler sections 2%,and the abutment between the insert sections 20c and 20a will coincidewith the outer periphery of the core member 12. Rotational movementbetween the core member 12 and the housing 14 may, of course, occur ineither instance. Where there is no indentation in the key member and thepin tumblers are forced outwardly, it will be seen that the pin tumblersections 20b will project beyond the outer periphery of the housingmember 14. Thus, these first four pin tumblers are adapted to provide anindication of the pattern on the key member which may be sensedexternally of the device.

The next three pin tumblers serve solely to lock the device againstrotation unless the proper key is inserted therein. These three pintumblers are not adapted to provide any externally sensible indicationof the pattern on the key member. Instead, the middle one of such threepin tumblers will only permit rotational movement between the core 12and the housing 14 when there is an indentation in the key membercorresponding thereto, whereas the other two pin tumblers will onlypermit rotational movement between the core member 12 and the housing 14when there is no indentation in the surface of the key membercorresponding thereto. It would, of course, be possible to dimension thepin tumbler section 2% of such other two pin tumblers so that they wouldproject beyond the housing 14 when the proper key is inserted. This aswell as other possible pin tumbler configurations and arrangements areindicated and more fully discussed in connection with FIG. 3 which is acrosssection taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2 showing a key member 10inserted in the device.

Referring to FIG. 3, the core member 12 is shown rigidly mounted bymeans of the flange 31 formed on one end thereof, the housing 14 isslipped over the core member 12 and mounted thereon by means of bearings32, 33 and 34. As shown in FIG. 3 the housing 14 may comprise a sleeve14 and end caps 14" and 14 in addition to the main body 14 in order toprovide ease of assembly of the housing and bearings onto the coremember through the use of machine screws 34. Thus it will be seen thatcore member 12 is adapted to be rigidly mounted on an appropriate framethrough the flange 31 and that the housing 14 is mounted on the coremember 12 for rotation with respect thereto on bearings 32, 33 and 34.An additional bearing 30 may be interposed between the housing 14 and anappropriate frame member in order to more rigidly support the housing 14during rotation thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of pin tumblers 20 as describedhereinabove are arranged along the axis of the core member 12 andproject into the recess therein into contact with the key member 10. Itwill be understood that such pin tumblers 20 need not be arranged in astraight line, but could be staggered with respect to each other in thecircumference of the device to accommodate a corresponding pattern inthe surface of the key member 10. It will also be understood that suchpin tumblers 20 need not extend perpendicularly to the axis of the coremember 12 so long as they extend transversely to the surface of therecess in the core member 12.

It will be understood that each of the pin tumblers 20 comprise at leasttwo sections 20A and 20B and that certain of them include a thirdsection 200 as described hereinabove. For ease of explanation of thefunctions of the various pin tumblers 20 shown in FIG. 3, they have beendesignated from right to left 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43.Referring first to pin tumblers 36 and 38, it will be seen that thesepin tumblers are adapted to either project (38) beyond the outer surfaceof the housing member 14 in the absence of an indentation in the surfaceof the key member 10, or be fully housed (36) within the housing member14 in the presence of an indentation in the surface of the key member10. It will be seen that pin tumblers 36 and 38 are provided with aninsert section 20a so that the housing 14 may be rotated with respect tothe core 12 regardless of which of the two positions the pin tumblers 36and 38 are caused to assume by the insertion of the key member 10. Thusthese pin tumblers provide no locking action whatever and serve solelyto sense the pattern on the surface of the key member 10 in order toenable a record thereof to be made as will be more fully describedhereinafter.

Pin tumblers 37 and 39, on the contrary, serve solely to lock thehousing 14 against rotation about the core 12 unless a proper key isinserted in the recess. To this end pin tumblers 37 and 39 comprise onlytwo sections, pin tumbler 37 being dimensioned so that the abutmentbetween the two sections thereof coincides with the outer periphery ofthe core member 12 only when the surface of the key '10 correspondingthereto is provided with an indentation. Pin tumbler 39, on the otherhand, is dimensioned so that the abutment between the two sectionsthereof coincides with the outer periphery of the core member 12 onlywhen the key inserted in the device does not have an indentation in thesurface thereof corresponding to pin tumbler 39. It will be seen thatboth pin tumbler 37 and pin tumbler 39 remain entirely housed within thehousing member 14 regardless of their position and thus are not adaptedto sense the pattern on the surface of the key member 10 other than inconnection with their locking function. It would, of course, be possiblefor a pin tumbler to perform both a locking function and a sensingfunction as indicated by pin tumblers 40 and 43. Thus, pin tumbler 40comprises two sections which are adapted to abut at the outer peripheryof the core member 12 when a key member 10 having no identationcorresponding thereto is inserted, the outer end of pin tumbler 40projecting beyond the housing 14 under such conditions. Similarly, pintumbler 43 comprises two sections adapted to abut at the outer peripheryof the core member 12 and project beyond the surface of the housing 14when a key member 10 having an indentation corresponding thereto isinserted. However, pin tumblers 40 and 43 are incapable of contributingsubstantially to the coded information which the device according tothis invention is capable of producing, since their locking functionsand indicating functions are necessarily combined.

Pin tumblers 41 and 42 do not perform either a locking function or anindicating function as described hereinabove. Instead, these pintumblers serve solely to provide dummy codes on the key member 10,thereby making it more difficult to determine which of the pin tumblersare actually used in making up a particular operable code. It will beseen that pin tumblers 41 and 42 are each made up of three sections andthat an abutment between such sections will occur at the outer peripheryof the core member 12 regardless of whether there is an indentation inthe surface of the key member 10 corresponding thereto or not.Furthermore, regardless of the position of the pin tumblers 41 and 42,they will not project beyond the housing 14 and thus will not contributeto the coded information generated by the insertion of a key into thedevice.

It will be understood that more than three sections could be used inselected pin tumblers 20 so that the relative depth of the indentationsin the surface of the key member might be sensed. However, this wouldrequire the use of a code other than the simple binary code resultingfrom sensing the mere projection or lack of projection of the pintumblers from the housing 14. A more advantageous embodiment of thisinvention combining indicating and locking functions and capable ofsensing relative irregularities in the key member whil preserving thebinary code is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, an arrangement of the key member 10, core member12, housing 14 and pin tumblers 20 is shown in which relative depth ofindentations in the pattern on the surface of the key 10 may be used toprovide both a locking function and a binary indication of such surfacepattern. As shown in FIG. 4 the pin tumbler 20 indicated by thereference numeral 36 is identical in form and operation to thatindicated by reference numeral 36 in FIG. 3. The pin tumbler indicatedby reference numeral 36' includes an insert section 200' that is thickerthan normal and a section 20b that is shorter than normal. Thus, ifthere is no indentation in the key member corresponding to pin tumbler36', the abutment between the insert 20c and section 20a will lie at theperiphery of the core member 12 and section 20b 'will project beyond thehousing 14 the selected distance for the binary code used; if there isan indentation of normal depth the insert 20c will perform a lockingfunction; and if the indentation is of selected increased depth suchlocking function will be avoided as indicated. Similarly, the pintumbler 36" includes an insert section of normal thickness but a section20a of increased length. Thus, if there is no indentation in the keymember 10 corresponding to pin tumbler 36" the section 20a will performa locking function and section 20b will project beyond the selecteddistance from the housing 14; if there is an indentation of normal depththe abutment between insert section 200 and section 20d will be at theperiphery of core member 12 releasing the looking function and section2012 will project beyond the housing 14 the selected distance for thebinary code used; and if the indentation is of selected increased depththe locking function will again be released, as shown, but withoutprojection of section 2% beyond the housing 14.

It will be understood that if no locking function is desired in thedevice, it would be possible for all of the pin tumblers 20 to comprisethree sections so that the pattern on any key of the proper generalconfiguration may be sensed. In such case, there would be no preferredorientation of the key with respect to the core, since any key in anyorientation would be operable to enable the housing 14 to be rotatedwith respect to the core 12. However, in view of the locking functionperformed by pin tumblers such as 37, 39, 40 and 43, there will be onlyone correct orientation for the insertion of the key member 10 into thecore 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. According to this embodiment of theinvetnion, such correct orientation is secured through the use of atongue and groove guiding means as indicated at in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thus,a tongue 45 is provided on the outer periphery of the shank of the keymember and an appropriate groove is provided in the housing member 14"and core member 12 to receive such tongue 45. It will be understood thatany other appropriate indexing means may be used, including a selectedmatching asymmetry in the configuration of the key member 10 and recessin the core member 12.

It will be understood that according to the teaching of this invention,the insert sections 20c of the pin tumblers are carried either by thehousing member 14 or by the core member 12 during rotation of thehousing member 14 about the core member 12. Thus one full revolution ofthe housing 14 is required in order to return all of the parts of thedevice to their original location prior to removal of the key memberfrom the device. For this reason the tongue and groove arrangementprovides means for locking the key member 10 in the device until thehousing member 14 has been rotated back to its original posiiton. Thisfunction may also be provided by an additional pin tumbler 46 located inthe core member 12 and housing 14 at the shank of the key member 10. Anappropriate locking indentation is provided in the shank of the keymember 10 to receive the pin tumbler 46, which pin tumbler 46 comprisestwo sections adapted to abut at the outer periphery of the core member12 when the pin tumbler 46 is seated in the locking indentation. It willbe seen that upon rotation of the housing, the key 10 will be locked inthe core 12 by lower section of the pin tumbler 6 until one fullrotation is completed. It would, of course, be possible to rely on theoperation of the pin tumbler 46 to insure proper orientation between thekey member 10 and the core member 12 in which case the tongue and grooveguide means 45 would not be required, although either or both may beused as desired.

A still further pin tumbler 48 is shown in FIG. 3 which performs afunction that will be more fully understood in connection with aspecific application of the preferred embodiment of this invention to bedescribed in connection with FIG. 5. Such pin tumbler 48 comprises twosections which are spring-loaded to tend to cause the pin tumbler toproject beyond the periphery of the housing member 14. The sections ofthe pin tumbler 48 are dimensioned so that the abutment therebetweenwill occur at the outer periphery of the core member 12 when the outerend of the pin tumbler 48 is forced into alignment With the outerperiphery of the housing member 14 against the spring loading thereof.Thus, the pin tumbler 48 functions to lock the housing 14 againstrotation about the core member 12 in the absence of a compressive forceon the pin tumbler 48 forcing it into the housing 14.

Referring to FIG. 5, a particular application for this embodiment of theinvention is shown. According to this embodiment of the invention, theprojection or lack of projection of the pin tumblers 20 from the housing14 is sensed by a sheet of pressure-sensitive material 50, receivedbetween the outer periphery of the housing member 14 and an appropriateroller 51. As shown in FIG. 5, the housing member 14 is provided with aflange 52 which serves as a hand-grip to facilitate rotation of thehousing 14 after insertion of the key member 10 into the core member 12to secure proper positioning of the pin tumblers 20. As the housing 14is rotated, the sheet or strip of pressure-sensitive material 50compressively received between the outer surface of the housing 14 andthe roller 51 will be advanced, and as projecting pin tumblers 20 aresuccessively brought into contact with the pressuresensitive sheet underthe roller 51, they will leave spaced impressions in thepressure-sensitive material providing a record of the code set by theinsertion of the particular key into the core. Thus a complete rotationof the housing 14 will result in a strip of pressure-sensitive materialupon which marks have been impressed representative of the pattern onthe surface of a particular operable key. Such strip may then bevisually or otherwise read to identify the particular operable key whichwas used in operation. The pin tumbler 48 prevents the operation of thedevice in the absence of a strip of pressure-sensitive material incompressive contact with the outer surface of housing 14 under roller51. The marks impressed on the pressure-sensitive material may compriseholes, indentations, discolorations, coatings, etc. in, on or throughthe surface of such material or the material itself.

As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 14 is provided with a further flange 53having gear teeth 54 formed about its outer periphery. As indicated bydotted lines 55, 56, the gear teeth 54 and the flange 53 on the housing14 may be mechanically coupled through an appropriate mechanism toactuate any desired device. For example, as indicated by dotted lines 55in FIG. 5, a partial rotation of the housing 14 may be coupled throughthe flange 53 and gear teeth 54 to an appropriate mechanism foractuating a metering device such as a gasoline pump, for example. Uponactuation of such metering device, the rotation of the housing 14 isstopped and the operation of the metering device; is carried out. Theinformation generated during operation of such metering device may betransferred to a remote unit associated with the device of thisinvention, as indicated by the shaft 57 and the alpha-numeric recordingwheels '58. When the operation of the metering device has beencompleted, the further rotation of the housing 14 may be coupled throughthe flange 53 and gear teeth "54 to an appropriate stamping device 59 asindicated dotted lines 56 to cause the information recorded on thealpha-numeric wheels '58 of the remote indicating device to be impressedupon the pressure-sensitive sheet or strip 50 adjacent the codedinformation produced by the device of this invention as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the alphanumeric informationgenerated by the metering device during twp separate operations thereofhave been printed on the left-hand side of the strip 50, whereas aseries of dots representative of the pattern on the particular key usedduring such operation has been imprinted on the right-hand side of thestrip. As shown in FIG. 6, two different keys, each having a differentpattern, have been used in performing the two separate operations of themetering Idevice. However, it will be understood that the same key couldbe used for successive operations of the device, in which case the samepattern of dots would be repeated for each operation on the right-handside of strip. Any appropriate reading means may be used to sense thepattern of dots on the right-hand side of the strip and thereby identifythe key used in the particular operation of the metering device. Forexample, apertured cards' corresponding to particular key patterns couldbe placed over the right-hand side of the strip in order to match theimprinted pattern to the known patterns of authorized keys.

It will be understood that the device of this invention may be used in awide variety of applications and in a wide variety of forms. The deviceof this invention is particularly suited to applications such asgasoline metering, since it does not include any agencies which mightproduce an explosion hazard, such as would be produced by electricaldevices, for example. Furthermore, the device of this invention isinexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate and positive in itsaction. The configuration of the key member 10 of this device makes italmost impossible to make a counterfeit imitation of an authorized keypattern. The large number of patterns which may be accommodated make thedevice of this invention particularly suitable in applications requiringthe use of a large numberof difierent authorized keys. It is believedthat those skilled in the art will make many modifications in the devicedisclosed herein to suit it for particular applications. It will beunderstood, for example, that any forceresponsive means appropriate in aparticular application might be used in place of the pressure-sensitivesheet 50 to detect the projection or lack of projection of the pintumblers from the housing 14. In fact, the housing 14 may be replaced byother appropriate means for sensing theposition of the pin tumblers 20with respect to the outer, surface of the core member'12 as mentionedhereinabove.

The pin tumblers sections need not be cylindrical as shown in thedrawing but may take any desired shape. Similarly, the pin tumblerinserts need not be cylindrical and in fact they may advantageously bespherical balls interposed between the other pin tumbler sections.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical code setting device comprising:

(a) a core member having a given axis, a recess formed in said coremember along said axis, the surface of said recess having a portioninclined with respect to said axis to define a recess portion ofcontinuously decreasing cross-section along said axis;

(b) a key member for insertion in said recess along said axis and havingan inclined outer surface portion generally conforming to said inclinedsurface portion of said recess, said outer surface portion of said keymember having a pattern of surface irregularities formed therein;

(c) means for sensing said pattern of surface irregularities on saidinclined outer surface portion of said key member upon insertion of saidkey member in said recess, said means comprising a plurality of pintumblers each slidably received in a different one of. a plurality ofpassageways having openings spaced from each other in said inclinedsurface portion of said recess and extending through said core membertransversely of said inclined surface portion of said recess, saidopenings of said passageways being positioned to correspond to selectedpoints in said pattern of irregularities on said inclined outer surfaceportion of said key member and said pin tumblers being adapted toproject through said openings into said recess in the absence of saidkey member, whereby, upon insertion of said key member in said recessalong said axis, said pin tumblers extend along said passageways topoints of termination with respect to the outer surface of said coremember in accordance with said selected points of said pattern on saidinclined outer surface portion of said key member, the inclined outersurface portion of said key member extending along substantially theentire extent of said openings of said passageways when said key memberis inserted into said recess, whereby the points of contact of. said pintumblers with said recess in the absence of said key member liegenerally on the inclined surface portion of said recess; and

(d) means for sensing said points of termination of said pin tumblerswith respect to the outer surface of said core member.

2. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidpin tumblers each comprise two or more sections and said means forsensing said points of termination of said pin tumblers comprises ahousing in which said core member is received, said housing havingpassageways therein forming extensions of said passageways in said coremember, said pin tumblers projecting into said passageways in saidhousing with an abutment between sections of each of said pin tumblersoccurring at the outer periphery of said core member and certain of saidpin tumblers projecting outside said housing when said key member isinserted in said recess.

3. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidmeans for sensing said points of termination of said pin tumblersfurther comprises force-responsive means adjacent at least a portion ofthe outer surface of said housing.

4. A mechanical code setting device comprising:

(a) a core member having a given axis, a recess formed in said coremember along said axis, the surface of said recess having a portioninclined with respect to said axis to define a recess portion ofcontinuously decreasing cross-section along said axis;

(b) a key member for insertion in said recess along said axis and havingan outer surface portion generally conforming to said inclined surfaceportion of said recess, said outer surface portion of said key memberhaving a pattern of surface irregularities formed therein;

(0) means for sensing said pattern of surface irregularities on saidouter surface portion of said key member upon insertion of said keymember in said recess, said means comprising a plurality of pintumblers, each pin tumbler comprising a plurality of sections and eachbeing slidably received in a different one of a plurality of.passageways having openings spaced from each other in said inclinedsurface portion of said recess and extending through said core 1 1member transversely of said inclined surface portion of said recess,said openings of said passageways being positioned to correspond toselected points in said pattern of irregularities on said outer surfaceportion of said key member and said pin tumblers being adapted toproject through said openings into said recess in the absence of saidkey member, whereby, upon insertion of. said key member in said recessalong said axis, said pin tumblers extend along said passageways topoints of termination with respect to the outer surface of said coremember in accordance with said selected points of said pattern on saidouter surface portion of said key member, and (d) means for sensing saidpoints of termination of said pin tumblers with respect to the'outersurface of said core member, said sensing means comprising a housing inwhich said core member is received, said housing having passagewaystherein forming extensions of said passageways in said core member, saidpin tumblers projecting into said passageways in said housing with anabutment between sections of each of said pin tumblers occurring at theouter periphery of said lcore member and certain of said pin tumblersprojecting outside said housing when said key member is inserted in saidrecess and force-responsive means associated with said sensing meansadjacent at least a portion of the outer surface of said housing, saidhousing being mounted for rotation about said core member and saidforce-responsive means contacting said housing at a fixed location withrespect to said core member whereby successive areas of said housing arebrought into contact with said force-responsive means upon rotation ofsaid housing. 5. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 4wherein said force-responsive means comprises a pressure-sensitive sheetpressed into contact with the outer surface of said housing and adaptedto receive an impression upon being brought into contact with pintumblers which project beyond said housing by rotation of said housingabout said core member.

6. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 5 whereincertain of said pin tumblers comprise at least three sections, theintermediate sections thereof being dimensioned to correspond toselected amounts of irregularity of said pattern of irregularities insaid surface of said key member.

7. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidcore member is cylindrical, said surface of said recess and said outersurface of said key member are conical, said pattern of irregularitiescomprises a pattern of indentations, and said housing is a hollowcylinder dimensioned to receive said core member with the outer surfaceof said core member in sliding contact with the inner surface of saidhousing.

8. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 7 wherein apressure-sensitive sheet is received between a roller and the outersurface of said housing and adapted to be advanced by rotation of saidhousing and receive an impression upon contact with pin tumblersprojecting beyond said housing.

9. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 8 whereinrotation of said housing actuates a recording device mechanicallycoupled thereto and adapted to imprint information on said sheet.

10. A mechanical code setting device as claimed in claim 9 whereinpartial rotation of said housing enables the operation of a meteringdevice mechanically coupled thereto and a further partial rotation ofsaid housing actuates a recording device adapted to imprint informationgenerated by the operation of said metering device onto saidpressure-sensitive sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT L. WOLFE,

U.S. Cl. X.R.

Primary Examiner

